Idaho victim’s mom reveals real reason she doesn’t care about Bryan Kohberger’s motive & why she didn’t go to sentencing

THE mom of one of Bryan Kohberger’s murder victims says she won’t waste any time trying to figure out the reasons for the horrific killing of her beloved son.

Ethan Chapin, who was a triplet, was knifed to death alongside fellow Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle by deranged Washington State graduate in November 2022.

Ethan, left, pictured here with his triplet brother and sister was killed in November 2022 at the University of Idaho by Brian Kohberger Kohberger will spend the rest of life behind bars after admitting to the gruesome quadruple murder which shocked the world Stacy Chapin sat down with The U.S. Sun at CrimeCon to talk about how her family are dealing with the grief of losing Ethan

The 30 year-old will spend the rest of his life behind bars after earlier this summer admitting to the shocking murders.

Ethan’s mother, Stacy, transformed her grief into purpose by establishing the Ethan’s Smile Foundation .

The nonprofit honors her son’s adventurous spirit and love for people by offering scholarships to help others achieve their dreams.

The foundation operates as a family unit, with Stacy, her husband Jim, and all her children serving on the board.

Stacy is also the author of The Boy Who Wore Blue, a published book inspired by Ethan’s character and early years as a triplet who constantly wore blue.

The book’s story and illustrations are drawn from the family’s treasured memories and real-life pictures.

The former teacher and principal would be forgiven for spending the hours trying to understand why sick Kohlberger cut her son’s life short.

But in an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun at CrimeCon in Denver, Stacy showed incredible strength and resilience when confronting the horror unleashed on that fateful night off campus in Moscow, Idaho.

Kohlberger has never revealed why he felt compelled to destroy the student’s lives.

Stacy, however, won’t waste any of her precious time attempting to unravel the mind of a maniacal murderer either.

She thinks we will never know the killer’s motive – and she doesn’t care.

“There’s a lot of people who talk about the reasons why but as the mom as one of these kids, I couldn’t never imagine what would be in someone’s mind to do what he did,” Stacy told The U.S. Sun.

“Who knows what someone like that thinks.”

“Nothing will bring Ethan back,” she added. “What would we learn if we knew the motive? He has admitted to it and will never leave prison. Knowing why doesn’t change the outcome,”

KEEPING THEIR COUNSEL

While confronting the nightmare with her husband, Stacy says it’s pointless dwelling on the brutality of the past, because nothing can help bring her son back.

The Chapins were the only family not to attend the final sentencing hearing earlier this summer.

She said there was “legitimately nothing” for them to add during the emotional, heart wrenching victim impact statements.

Ethan’s brother and sister were asked by the parents if they wanted to take the stand, but they “definitely didn’t” want to.

Stacy instead posted a picture that day on social media, writing that her son will “forever be” in her family’s heart.

Kohberger was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole on July 23, 2025, after pleading guilty to .

“The only purpose was only in being there to represent our son and our brother,” Stacy said of the decision to stay away from the courthouse. “What is there to say? No one can assume what it’s like to experience something like this from our side.”

Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were all knifed to death by Kohberger the university’s campus in Moscow, Idaho

CUTTING EDGE DEVELOPMENTS

A chance meeting at CrimeCon in Orlando two years ago between Stacy and Kristen Mittleman, the CEO of cutting-edge DNA company Othram helped accelerate Kohlberger’s prosecution.

It also allowed the grieving families precious time to digest the situation rather than spend months waiting for closure.

Othram’s connection with the Idaho PD was vital, with investigators allowing key crime scene evidence to be examined.

DNA found on the tan leather knife sheaf confirmed the murderer’s identity.

With almost 20,000 tips sent into cops, that’s a lot of information for the authorities to sift through.

Thankfully for those impacted by the horrific crime, Othram’s genetic DNA testing was able to cut through the questions and deliver the verdict everyone was looking for.

The Texas based company’s technology constructs family trees that helped investigators navigate towards a Pennsylvania family with Italian heritage, which finally pinned PhD criminology student Kohberger, who studied to the crime.

The family of JonBenet Ramsey, meanwhile, are battling with Colorado PD to bring Othram on board, yet are facing stern resistance from the officers investigating with no such association in place.

John Ramsey told The U.S. Sun at CrimeCon he was desperate to get the Texas based firm, who have already solved hundreds of cold cases at an impressive rate, involved in the desperate fight to solve his daughter’s murder.

But he is facing a bitter uphill battle to get police to pay around $15,000 to use Othram’s state-of-the-art labs.

FUTURE HOPE

Colby Lasyone, chief of staff for Othram, said the nailing of Kohlberger’s guilt was a “great example” of how modern day companies and cops work together for the greater good.

“If this crime had happened in a state where you didn’t have a forward-thinking crime lab, with a contract with a place like Othram, in this case… the testing may not have happened,” he told The U.S. Sun. “Then you could have had that extended timeline.”

The resolution of the case was warmly welcomed by Stacy, who vowed to keep Ethan forever in their hearts as they somehow attempted to move on with their lives.

His siblings – Maisie and Hunter – also attended the University of Idaho and, together with husband Jim, Stacy has promised to show them the kind of strength of character which has helped her emerge from the darkest of times.

“Jim and I had a conversation over a coffee probably five months after we lost Ethan,” Stacy continued. “We just decided that you can lose yourself in grief or you can make a choice to just get up and live your life.

“Maisie and Hunter don’t deserve parents that had potentially lost themselves. We couldn’t change the outcome, we had to still live our life and give them the best life that they deserved.”

Talking to NBC News earlier this summer, Stacy and her husband described the “incredible” 20 year-old freshman, who studied recreation, sport and tourism management, as laid back, full of life and laughs.

They jokingly said he was minoring in Bud Light Lime and Taco Bell.

Ethan’s loss is immeasurable. Yet Stacy says moving forward is all the family can do.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say that it doesn’t have moments,” she said. “But even now, every day feels like you’re a little bit closer to your new normal, whatever that looks like. Our kids are doing great.

“They’ve also persevered in a way that amazes me as a mom. They were there that day. They all went to college together. They spent every second together. And the fact that they went back to school, graduated and now concentrating on their careers, I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Stacy told The U.S. Sun her family shown incredible strength following Ethan’s senseless murder